บทที่ บทที่ 299 · How Palomides went for to fight with two brethren for the

. How Palomides went for to fight with two brethren for the

death of King Hermance.

Now will we leave them merry within Joyous Gard, and speak we of Sir

Palomides. Then Sir Palomides sailed evenlong Humber to the coasts of

the sea, where was a fair castle. And at that time it was early in the

morning, afore day. Then the mariners went unto Sir Palomides that

slept fast. Sir knight, said the mariners, ye must arise, for here is a

castle there ye must go into. I assent me, said Sir Palomides; and

therewithal he arrived. And then he blew his horn that the mariners had

given him. And when they within the castle heard that horn they put

forth many knights; and there they stood upon the walls, and said with

one voice: Welcome be ye to this castle. And then it waxed clear day,

and Sir Palomides entered into the castle. And within a while he was

served with many divers meats. Then Sir Palomides heard about him much

weeping and great dole. What may this mean? said Sir Palomides; I love

not to hear such a sorrow, and fain I would know what it meaneth. Then

there came afore him one whose name was Sir Ebel, that said thus: Wit

ye well, sir knight, this dole and sorrow is here made every day, and

for this cause: we had a king that hight Hermance, and he was King of

the Red City, and this king that was lord was a noble knight, large and

liberal of his expense; and in the world he loved nothing so much as he

did errant knights of King Arthur’s court, and all jousting, hunting,

and all manner of knightly games; for so kind a king and knight had

never the rule of poor people as he was; and because of his goodness

and gentleness we bemoan him, and ever shall. And all kings and

estates may beware by our lord, for he was destroyed in his own

default; for had he cherished them of his blood he had yet lived with

great riches and rest: but all estates may beware by our king. But

alas, said Ebel, that we shall give all other warning by his death.

Tell me, said Palomides, and in what manner was your lord slain, and by

whom. Sir, said Sir Ebel, our king brought up of children two men that

now are perilous knights; and these two knights our king had so in

charity, that he loved no man nor trusted no man of his blood, nor none

other that was about him. And by these two knights our king was

governed, and so they ruled him peaceably and his lands, and never

would they suffer none of his blood to have no rule with our king. And

also he was so free and so gentle, and they so false and deceivable,

that they ruled him peaceably; and that espied the lords of our king’s

blood, and departed from him unto their own livelihood. Then when these

two traitors understood that they had driven all the lords of his blood

from him, they were not pleased with that rule, but then they thought

to have more, as ever it is an old saw: Give a churl rule and thereby

he will not be sufficed; for whatsomever he be that is ruled by a

villain born, and the lord of the soil to be a gentleman born, the same

villain shall destroy all the gentlemen about him: therefore all

estates and lords, beware whom ye take about you. And if ye be a knight

of King Arthur’s court remember this tale, for this is the end and

conclusion. My lord and king rode unto the forest hereby by the advice

of these traitors, and there he chased at the red deer, armed at all

pieces full like a good knight; and so for labour he waxed dry, and

then he alighted, and drank at a well. And when he was alighted, by the

assent of these two traitors, that one that hight Helius he suddenly

smote our king through the body with a spear, and so they left him

there. And when they were departed, then by fortune I came to the well,

and found my lord and king wounded to the death. And when I heard his

complaint, I let bring him to the water side, and in that same ship I

put him alive; and when my lord King Hermance was in that vessel, he

required me for the true faith I owed unto him for to write a letter in

this manner.